Devon and Exeter Premier

Okehampton Argyle 4

Barnstaple Town 1

ARGYLE entertained bottom club Barnstaple on Saturday.

Okehampton, who have only played eight league games this season, are in a strong position if they can win all their games in hand. They started brightly and kept good possession playing pass and move football but failed to deliver any penetrating final balls to unlock an organised defence.

But Argyle took their foot off the pedal and allowed Barnstaple to regroup — they took the game to Argyle, stretching the home defence with good running off the ball, and created several chances. They opened their account with a scrappy goal.

Argyle again had much possession after this but still let themselves down with their final ball. Mortimer rounded his marker, went to the byline and his pull-back failed to find an Argyle player. Stuart Cann had a couple of chances from long range, but these sailed over the bar.

With half-time approaching Maddax collected the ball just outside the penalty box, saw the keeper off his line and promptly chipped the ball into the top corner.

The half-time team talk must have worked because after the break Argyle looked a different side — they were hungrier and moved the ball quicker to both flanks, using King, Agnew and Carew who created openings on every attack

From a corner and a goalmouth scramble. Argyle took the lead through King with a trademark tap-in from three yards.

Argyle keeper Bailey was not called upon to make a save in the second half, assisted by Soby, K Gill and M Vernon in defence, who looked solid throughout.

Mortimer was rewarded for his constant running off the ball, when he scored the third with a sweet volley which nestled into the top corner.

N Vernon, Gibbs and Reddington were introduced and all three gave good performances. The rout was completed by Cann who collected the ball from the left, dummied his shot, brought it back on to his left foot and coolly lobbed the keeper with a perfect chip into the top corner.

Argyle have a relatively easy run in before Christmas, which should see them climb the table to a healthy position.

This week Argyle are away to Elmore, kick-off 2.30pm.